Marking apparatus



Jan. 7, 1964 s. GoT'rscHo ETAL. 3,116,684

MARKING APPARATUS Filed July 6, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l Y f6.0 /62 /596234 @DMW /52 3" 44 .l I 2a 20 5a MMIII, 3 l' 66 .lll Il* (26g I /54 Y I/90 .1 (,43 P /0 iff-ffm ATTORNEY MARKING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed July 6, 1961 4 www ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,116,684MARKING APPARATUS Ira S. Gottscho, Milburn, and Lawrence J. Talarico,South Plainfield, NJ., assignors to Adolph Gottscho, Inc., Hillside,NJ., a corporation of New York Filed July '6, 1961, Ser. No. 122,279 6Claims. (Cl. 101-35) This invention relates generally to markingapparatus, and more particularly is directed to an improved apparatusfor applying inked impressions to horizontal surfaces of cartons,packages, articles, webs, sheets or strips as the same are conveyed pastthe marking apparatus.

It is an object of the invention to provide a marking apparatus of thedescribed character in which the die wheel carrying a marking means onthe periphery thereof, and the inking and metering rolls by which ink istransferred from a fountain to the marking means are rotatably carriedby a support structure disposed only at one side of the markingapparatus so that such supporting structure can be mounted alongside anexisting conveyor to permit the die wheel to apply markings, either frombelow or above, to horizontal surfaces of the conveyed cartons,articles, webs, sheets or the like without requiring alteration of theconveyor.

Another object is to provide a marking apparatus in which changing ofthe die Wheel and inking and metering rolls, and removal of the inkfountain are greatly facilitated.

A further object is to provide a marking apparatus of the describedcharacter in which the inking system is substantially enclosed so as toreduce the rate of evaporation of the ink or of the solvent therein, andfurther to maintain the ink supply free of dirt or dust.

A further object is to provide a marking apparatus of the describedcharacter which is more compact than the existing apparatuses providedfor the same purposes.

A still further object is to provide a marking apparatus of thedescribed character having a simplified drive mechanism for positivelyeffecting rotation of the die wheel and of the inking and metering rollsincluded in the inking system, while permitting relatively slow speedrotation of the inking roll for discouraging the throwing of ink fromthe periphery of the latter during high speed operation of theapparatus.

In accordance with an aspect of this invention, a marking apparatusincludes a fixed support adapted to be mounted adjacent one side of aconveyor, a frame member disposed at the side of the support facingtoward the conveyor and mounted for rocking relative to the supportabout a laterally extending axis, a rotated drive shaft substantiallycoaxial with said axis and projecting beyond the frame member in thedirection away from the fixed support and carrying an inking roll, axlessupported, at one end, in the frame member and also projecting from thelatter in the direction away from the fixed support and rotatablycarrying a removable metering roll and die wheel, respectively, a chainand sprocket transmission driving the metering roll and die wheel fromthe drive shaft, and an ink fountain removably mounted on the framemember at the side of the latter facing away from the iixed support andextending under the inking and metering rolls so that the inking rollpicks up ink from the ink fountain or reservoir for transfer by themetering roll to the operative surfaces of marking means mounted on theperiphery of the die wheel.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the frame member isresiliently and adjustably positioned relative to the fixed supportabout the axis of the drive shaft so as to determine the printing heightof the marking means on the die wheel and the pressure of the markingmeans against the conveyed surfaces to be marked.

3,116,684 Patented Jan. 7, 1964 ICC Further, in accordance with theinvention, the drive shaft carrying the inking roll and the axlecarrying the metering roll are preferably mounted in eccentric bearinghousings or bushings so as to permit adjustment of the Contact pressurebetween the inking and metering rolls and between the surface of themetering roll and the operative or raised surfaces of the marking meanson the die Wheel.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the invention,will be apparent in the following detailed description of anillustrative embodiment thereof which is to be read in connection withthe accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, and wherein:

FIG. l is a side elevational View of a marking apparatus embodying thepresent invention, and which is designed to apply inked impressions ormarkings from below to horizontal surfaces of cartons, articles, webs,sheets or the like carried by a conveyor past the marking apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational View, partly broken away, of the markingapparatus in FIG. 1, but as viewed from the opposite side thereof;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional View taken along the line 3 3of FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4 4 of FIG. 3, but onthe same scale as FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken along the line 5 5 onFIG. 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that a markingapparatus embodying the present invention, and there generallyidentified by the reference numeral 10, includes a pedestal or support12 adapted to be fixed or secured by screws 14 to a frame or structure,as indicated in broken lines at 16 on FIG. l, disposed adjacent one sideof a conveyor (not shown) which transports cartons, articles, sheets,Webs or the like past the marking apparatus 10, with the surfacesthereof to be marked travelling along a path indicated at 18. Thesupport or pedestal 12 includes a block 20 disposed at the top thereofin the illustrated embodiment and having a bore extending laterallytherethrough to receive a cylindrical bearing housing 22. The housing 22has an internal bore 24 extending axially therethrough which iseccentric with respect to the outer cylindrical surface of housing 22and which is counterbored at its opposite ends to receive bearings 26 inwhich a drive shaft 28 is rotatably journaled.

A side frame member 30 in the form of an elongated relatively flat plateis formed with a boss 32 intermediate its opposite ends having a centralbore which receives the outer cylindrical surface of bearing housing 22so that the latter pivotally mounts frame member 30 on the block 20 ofpedestal I2. When the apparatus it) is to mark from below, as in theillustrated embodiment, the back end portion of frame member 30, thatis, the end portion extending in the direction opposed to the movementof the conveyed cartons, articles, sheets, webs or the like to be markedalong the path 18, projects upwardly, as at 34 (FIG. l), and has a boss36 (FIG. 3) provided with a bore 38 to receive an end portion 40 of anaxle 42. A radial flange 43 is provided between axle 42 and its endportion 4t?, and the latter has a reduced diameter threaded extension 44which receives a nut 46 for securing axle 42 to frame member 30.

In order to adjustably position frame member 30 relative to fixedsupport or pedestal 12, apparatus 10 further includes an arm 48 (FIGS. 1and 3) extending rearwardly from a leg Sti which is secured by screws 52to a side of block 20. The free or back end of arm 48 is in the form ofan eye 54 disposed substantially in vertical alignment with extension i4of axle 42, and eye 54 is pivotally connected by a pin S6 to an eye 58(FIG. 3) at the lower end of a bolt 60 extending slidably through avertical bore formed in extension 44 which preferably has flattenedupper and lower surfaces. A knurled adjustment nut 62 and lock nut 64(FIG. 1) are screwed on bolt 60 above extension 44 of axle 42 foradjustably limiting upward movement of the back end of frame member 38about its pivoting axis, and a helical compression spring 66 extendsaround bolt 68 below extension 44 and bears, at its opposite ends,against such extension and against a nut 68 on the lower portion of bolt60. Thus, spring 66 yieldably urges the back end portion of frame member31) in the direction toward the path of travel 18 of the surfaces to bemarked, that is, upwardly in the illustrated embodiment of theinvention. The force exerted by spring 66 can be varied by moving nut 68along bolt 6G, while the extent of the movement of frame member 3i) inthe upward direction may be varied by adjusting nuts 62 and 64 on bolt6i).

It will be apparent that axle 42 extends laterally from frame member 38at the side of the latter facing away from fixed support 12, and a diewheel generally identified by the reference numeral 70 is rotatablymounted on axle 42. The die wheel 70 preferably includes a hollowcylindrical body 72 (FIG. 3) which is counterbored at its opposite endsto receive bearings 74 by which body 72 is rotatably supported on axle42. Body 72 is retained on axle 42 by a retaining ring 76 fitting arounda reduced diameter end portion 78 of axle 42 and being held in positionby a snap ring 8@ received in an annular groove in end portion 78. Asleeve 82 fits on the outer surface of cylindrical body 72 and bearsagainst an external radial shoulder 84 formed on body 72 adjacent theend thereof closest to frame member 3i). The opposite end portion ofbody 72 is provided with external threads 36 to receive a ring unt 88 bywhich sleeve 82 is releasably held on body 72. The end of sleeve 82bearing against shoulder 84 is provided with an external, radiallydirected flange 90, while its opposite end portion is formed withexternal threads 92 on which a ring nut 94 is screwed so as to retain amarking element or elements on sleeve 82 between flange 90 and ring nut94. The marking element may be in the form of a logotype 96 adhesivelyor otherwise secured on the outer surface of a ring 98 which ts on theouter surface of sleeve 82 and is suitably located along the latter by atubular spacer 100, as in the particular arrangement illustrated in FIG.3, or other forms of marking elements may be secured on sleeve 82. Inany case, it will be apparent that, by reason of the fact that axle 42is supported only at one end of the latter, sleeve 82 and the markingelement or elements thereon may be removed, as a unit, from body '72merely by removal of ring nut 83, thereby facilitating rapid type or diechanges.

In order to supply ink to the raised or operative surfaces of themarking element 96 at the periphery of die wheel 70, the apparatusfurther includes an inking roll 102 made up of a cylindrical body 104having a hub secured, as by a set screw 186, on the drive shaft 23 whichprojects substantially beyond frame member 36 in the direction away fromsupport or pedestal 12. A resilient cover 188 of rubber or the likeextends around the cylindrical periphery of body 184 and is intended topick up ink from an underlying fountain or tank 110. The fountain 110extends to the forward end of frame member 30 and, at the side of itsforward portion adjacent the frame member, is formed with bosses 112 and114 which abut against the side surface of frame member 36 (FIG. 3).Boss 112 is provided with a socket 116 which receives the head 118 of ascrew extending from frame member and acting as a locating button, whileboss 114 has a tapped hole 128 which receives a screw 122 extendingthrough frame member 38 to secure tank 110 to the frame member.

The inking system of apparatus 1t) further has a metering roll 124 thatincludes a cylindrical body 126 with a hub at one end and having anaxial bore 12S that is counterbored, at its opposite ends, to receivebearings 130 by which body 126 is rotatably mounted on an axle 132.

Axle 132 has an end portion 1.34 extending beyond a radial flange 136and being received in an eccentric bushing 138 which is turnable in thebore of a boss 140 formed on frame member 38 intermediate bosses 32 and36. End portion 134 of axle 132 is retained in eccentric bushing 138 bya nut 142 screwed on a reduced diameter threaded extension of endportion 134.

It will be noted that axle 132 rotatably carrying metering roll 124 alsoextends laterally from frame member 30 at the side of the latter facingaway from support or pedestal 12, and metering roll 124 is held on axle132 by a retaining ring 144 which is held on the free end of axle 132 bya split ring 146 engaging in an annular groove formed in the free end ofthe axle. Thus, metering roll 124 can be conveniently removed from itsaxle 132 merely by removing the split ring 146 and the retaining ring144, thereby facilitating replacement of the metering roll.

The location of the axle 132 of metering roll 124 and the diameter ofthe latter are selected so that the cylindrical outer surface of body126 will be in simultaneous rolling engagement with the cylindricalsurface of the cover 183 of inking roll 102 and with the raised surfacesof the marking element or elements 96 on die wheel 7), whereby meteringroll 124 will be effective to transfer ink rom the inking roll to themarking element or elements during simultaneous rotation of the inkingand metering rolls and the die wheel.

The eccentric bearing housing 22 supporting the drive shaft 28 and theeccentric bushing 138 supporting axle 132 are turnable within therespective bosses 32 and 140 of frame member 3) in order to adjust thedistances between the parallel axes of rotation of the inking andmetering rolls and the die wheel, and thereby vary the amount of inktransferred by metering roll 124 from inking roll 102 to the operativeor raised surfaces of the marking element or elements 96 on the diewheel. In order to effect turning of eccentric bearing housing 22, aring 148 (FIG. 3) is secured thereon, as by a set screw 150, between theblock 2t) of pedestal or support 12 and the boss 32 of frame member 39,and a handle 152 projects radially from ring 48 for manual turningthereof. Similarly, a ring 154 is secured, as by a set screw 156, on anend of eccentric bushings 138 projecting beyond boss 140 and has ahandle 158 extending radially therefrom to permit manual turning of ring154, and hence of eccentric bushing 138.

In. order to prevent inadvertent turning of the eccentric bearinghousing 22 and an eccentric bushing 138 from the respective adjustedpositions thereof, set screws 160 and 162 (FIGS. l and 2) having knurledheads are screwed into tapped holes formed vertically in frame member 30and are engaged with bearing housing 22 and eccentric bushing 13S,respectively.

In the apparatus 10, the inking and metering rolls 102 and 124 and diewheel 71B are all rotatably driven in synchronism with the advancementof the surface or surfaces to be marked by the associated conveyor. Suchdrive is effected through a sprocket 164 fixed on an end of drive shaft28 extending from block 2i) at the side of the latter remote from framemember 30 and being driven by a chain 166 from a shaft or rotated member(not shown) of the associated conveyor. The rotation of drive shaft 28obviously effects similar rotation of inking roll 102 thereon, and, inaccordance with the invention, metering roll 124 and die wheel 70 arerotated from drive shaft 28 by a chain and sprocket transmission 168(FIG. 4). The transmission 168 includes a sprocket 178 fixed, as by akey 172 (FIG. 3) on shaft 28 between the hub of body 104 and theadjacent flanged end of bearing housing 22, a sprocket 174 rotatable onaxle 132 between the hub of body 126 of the metering roll and the Harige136 and being rotatably coupled to the hub of metering roll 124, as by apin 176, and a sprocket 178 rotatable on axle 42 between the body 72 ofdie wheel 78 and flange 43 and being rotatably coupled to the body 72 ofthe die wheel, as by a pin 130.

The transmission 168 further includes an idler sprocket 182 (FIGS. 4 and5) rotatable on a bushing 184 carried by a bolt 186 defining an axle forsprocket 182 and being adjustably secured, as by a nut 188 in ahorizontally elongated slot 190 (FIG. l) formed in frame member 30 at alocation substantially below boss 36 in which axle 42 is mounted.Transmission 168 is completed by an endless chain 192 which, as shown inFIG. 4, runs around driven sprocket 170, under sprocket 174, and thenaround sprocket 178 and idler sprocket 182 so that metering roll 124 isrotated in the direction counter to the rotation of inking roll 102,while die wheel 70 is rotated in the same direction as the inking roll.It will be apparent that the bolt 190 forming the axle of the idlersprocket 182 can be adjustably displaced along slot 190 for taking upany slack in the drive chain 192. Further, the described transmission163 represents a relatively simple mechanism by which the requireddirections and relative speeds of rotation of the inking and meteringroll and the die Wheel can be achieved in a relatively small space. Itis to be noted that the sprocket 174 associated with metering roll 124preferably has a smaller pitch diameter than the sprocket 170 on driveshaft 23 which carries inking roll 102, whereby inking roll 102 isdriven at a rotational speed which is less than the rotational speed ofthe metering roll so as to avoid the throwing of ink from the surface ofthe inking roll during high speed operation of marking apparatus 10.Further, as is apparent in FIG. 3, frame member 30 preferably has alaterally directed flange 194 extending along the periphery of the framemember at the side thereof` facing away from support 12 so as to safelyenclosethe chain and sprocket transmission 168.

As shown in FIG. 2, a scraper 196 preferably extends from fountain ortank 110 to engage the surface of inking roll 102 at the side of thelatter moving upwardly out of the fountain, thereby to return the excessink to the latter. Further, it will be seen that the fountain 110projects nnder metering roll 124 to receive any excess ink dropping fromthe surface of the metering roll, particularly at the line of rollingcontact of the latter with the inking roll.

In accordance with the present invention, the fountain 110 and theinking and metering rolls 102 and 124 are substantially covered by acover 198 which is removably attached to the forward end of frame member30 by the head of a screw 200 acting as a locating pin or buttonreceived in a socket of the cover and by a clamping screw 202 (FIG. 1)received in a tapped hole of the cover, and which are similar to thescrews 118 and 122 previously described in connection with theattachment of the fountain 110 to the frame member. Thus, the cover 198can also be conveniently removed for easy access to the fountain 110 andto the inking and metering rolls during cleaning of the inking system.

Ink is preferably fed to fountain 110 from a supply container orreservoir 204 (FIGS. l and 2) which is removably mounted on a depressedportion 206 of cover 198 so that the top of supply container 204 liesbelow the level of the top of die wheel 70. The feeding of ink fromreservoir 204 to fountain 110 is preferably controlled in the mannerdescribed in detail in application Serial No. 737,393, led May 23, 1958,by Francis C. Worth, which was issued on August l5, 1961, as U.S.Letters Patent No. 2,996,005. Briefly stated, ink is fed from reservoir204 through a depending pipe 208 (FIG. 2) extending into fountain 110 tomaintain a substantially constant level of ink in the latter. A ballvalve (not shown) in pipe 208 is unseated by a pin 210 projectingupwardly into the latter from the bottom of the fountain, and such valveautomatically closes to prevent leakage through pipe 208 when supplycontainer 204 is removed from its operative position shown in thedrawing.

Although the illustrated apparatus 10 is intended to mark the conveyedsurface or surfaces from below, a similar apparatus embodying theinvention may be provided for marking the conveyed surfaces from abovemerely by altering the position of the axle 42 carrying the die wheel'70 so that the latter projects downwardly below the inking and meteringrolls, and by rearranging arm 48 and bolt 60 so that the latter extendsupwardly from the end 44 of axle 42 to the eye 54 at the free end of arm48.

It will be apparent that, in the apparatus 10 embodying this invention,the entire inking system is substantially enclosed, thereby to reducethe evaporation of the ink or solvent and consequently increase theefficiency of the utilization of the ink while keeping the latter freeof dust or dirt. Further, since the inking and metering rolls and thefountain or tank are overhung, that is, are supported at only one sidethereof, the removal of these components of the apparatus issubstantially facilitated so that cleaning or replacement of suchcomponents can be conveniently accomplished. The provision of thesupport or pedestal 12 at only one side of the marking apparatus makesit possible to mount such apparatus in relation to a conveyor carryingcartons so that marking of the flaps of cartons or the like can beconveniently accomplished.

It is also to be noted that, since the frame member 30 is mounted forpivotal movement substantially about the axi-s of the drive shaft 28carrying inking roll 102 the overall length of marking apparatus 10 issubstantially reduced so as to provide a compact assembly that `can beconveniently linstalled adjacent a conveyor without substantialmodification 'of the conveyor structure.

Although an illustrative embodiment of the invention has been describedin detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is tobe understood that the invention iis not limited to that preciseembodiment, and that various changes and modifications may be effectedtherein Without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention,except as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for applying inked markings to horizonta'l surfacesconveyed past the apparatus, comprising a xed support adapted to bemounted at one side of the path of the conveyed surfaces, a frame memberdisposed at the side of said support facing toward said path, a bearinghousing turnably received in said frame member and support so as topermit rock-fing of the fname member relative to the support about alaterally extending, hori- Zontal axis, a rotated drive shaft journaledin said bearling housing substantially coaxial with said axis and havinga cantilevered end portion projecting laterally from the frame member inthe direction away from said support, a first cantilevered axle secured,at one end, in said frame and projecting from the side of said framemember facing away from said support adjacent one end of the framemember, a rotatable die wheel having marking means on its periphery andbeing removably mounted on said first cantilevered axle, means angularlypositioning said frame member relative to said support so as to effectrolling and marking Contact of said marking means on the die wheel withthe conveyed surfaces, and inking roll releasably fixed on saidcantilevered end portion of said rot-ated drive shaft, an -ink fountainremovably mounted on and projecting laterally from said frame member atsaid side Iof the latter and underlying said inking roll so that thelatter can pick up ink from said fountain, a second cantilevered axlessecured at one end in said frame member and projecting from said side ofthe frame member intermediate said drive shaft and first axle, arotatable metering roll removably mounted on said second cantileveredaxle to effect simultaneous rolling contact with said inking roll andmark-ing means `for transferring ink to the latter from said inkingroll, and transmission means operative to drive said die Wheel andmetering roll from said drive shaft.

2. An apparatus Ias in claim l; wherein said bearing housing turnablyreceived in said yframe member and support and having said drive shaftjournalled therein has an outer cylindrical surface which is eccentricwith respect to the axis of said shaft; and further comprising aneccentric bushing turnable in said frame member and carrying said secondaxle so that turning of said eccentric bearing housing and saideccentric bushing is effective to vary the pressure of contact of saidinking roll with said metering roll and of the latter with said markingmeans on the die wheel.

3. An apparatus as `in claim 1; wherein said die wheel includes acylindrical body rotatable on said rst axle and having an externalradial shoulder at the end thereof adjacent said frame member andexternal threads at the opposite end, a sleeve slidable on said bodyagainst said shoulder and carrying said marking means, and a ring nutengaging said external threads to releasably retain said sleeve on saidbody and thereby permit rapid exchange of said sleeve when the markingsto be applied are altered.

4. An apparatus as in claim 1; wherein said frame member is in the formof an elongated relatively iiat plate lying substantially in a verticalplane and having a boss intermediate its opposite ends in which saidbearing housing is turnably received, and said ink fountain extendsalong a substantial portion of the length of said plate from the end yofthe latter which is remote from said one end of the frame membercarrying said rst cantilevered axle; and further comprising a coverremovably mounted on said frame member at said side of the latter andextending over said fountain and said inking and metering rolls toreduce evaporation of ink and to maintain the latter free of dirt anddust, said cover 'having a portion of reduced height extending yalongthe end portion of said plate remote from said one end carrying thefirst axle, and a reservoir mounted on the portion of said cover havinga reduced height to feed ink to said fountain while maintaining arelatively small overall height for said apparatus.

5. An apparatus as in claim 1; wherein said transmission means `includessprockets lixed on said drive shaft and rotatable on said rst and secondaxles between said frame member and said inking roll, die wheel andmetering roll, respectively, the sprockets on said first and secondaxles `being rotatably coupled to said die Wheel and said metering roll,respectively, and an endless chain wrapped in the same direction aroundthe sprockets on said drive shaft and rst axle and wrapped in theopposite direction `around the sprocket on said second axle to rotatesaid die wheel `in the same direction as said drive shaft and `inkingroll and to rotate said metering roll in the opposite direction,

6. An apparatus as in claim 5; wherein said transmission means furtherincludes a rotatable idler sprocket adjustably mounted on said framemember at said side of the latter and engaging said chain to take-upslack in the latter.

References Cited in the A[ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS291,155 Compton Ian. 1, 1884 1,683,774 Haase Sept. 11, 1928 2,021,128Castellane Nov. 19, 1935 2,749,838 Stover June 12, 1956 2,761,379Hirschey et al. Sept. 4, 1956 2,829,589 Alessi et al Apr. 8, 19582,835,195 Jackson May 20, 1958 2,909,991 Farkas Oct. 27, 1959

1. AN APPARATUS FOR APPLYING INKED MARKINGS TO HORIZONTAL SURFACESCONVEYED PAST THE APPARATUS, COMPRISING A FIXED SUPPORT ADAPTED TO BEMOUNTED AT ONE SIDE OF THE PATH OF THE CONVEYED SURFACES, A FRAME MEMBERDISPOSED AT THE SIDE OF SAID SUPPORT FACING TOWARD SAID PATH, A BEARINGHOUSING TURNABLY RECEIVED IN SAID FRAME MEMBER AND SUPPORT SO AS TOPERMIT ROCKING OF THE FRAME MEMBER RELATIVE TO THE SUPPORT ABOUT ALATERALLY EXTENDING, HORIZONTAL AXIS, A ROTATED DRIVE SHAFT JOURNALED INSAID BEARING HOUSING SUBSTANTIALLY COAXIAL WITH SAID AXIS AND HAVING ACANTILEVERED END PORTION PROJECTING LATERALLY FROM THE FRAME MEMBER INTHE DIRECTION AWAY FROM SAID SUPPORT, A FIRST CANTILEVERED AXLE SECURED,AT ONE END, IN SAID FRAME AND PROJECTING FROM THE SIDE OF SAID FRAMEMEMBER FACING AWAY FROM SAID SUPPORT ADJACENT ONE END OF THE FRAMEMEMBER, A ROTATABLE DIE WHEEL HAVING MARKING MEANS ON ITS PERIPHERY ANDBEING REMOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID FIRST CANTILEVERED AXLE, MEANS ANGULARLYPOSITIONING SAID FRAME MEMBER RELATIVE TO SAID SUPPORT SO AS TO EFFECTROLLING AND MARKING CONTACT OF SAID MARKING MEANS ON THE DIE WHEEL WITHTHE CONVEYED SURFACES, AND INKING ROLL RELEASABLY FIXED ON SAIDCANTILEVERED END PORTION OF SAID ROTATED DRIVE SHAFT, AN INK FOUNTAINREMOVABLY MOUNTED ON AND PROJECTING LATERALLY FROM SAID FRAME MEMBER ATSAID SIDE OF THE LATTER AND UNDERLYING SAID INKING ROLL SO THAT THELATTER CAN PICK UP INK FROM SAID FOUNTAIN, A SECOND CANTILEVERED AXLESSECURED AT ONE END IN SAID FRAME MEMBER AND PROJECTING FROM SAID SIDE OFTHE FRAME MEMBER INTERMEDIATE SAID DRIVE SHAFT AND FIRST AXLE, AROTATABLE METERING ROLL REMOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SECOND CANTILEVEREDAXLE TO EFFECT SIMULTANEOUS ROLLING CONTACT WITH SAID INKING ROLL ANDMARKING MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING INK TO THE LATTER FROM SAID INKING ROLL,AND TRANSMISSION MEANS OPERATIVE TO DRIVE SAID DIE WHEEL AND METERINGROLL FROM SAID DRIVE SHAFT.